The Benedictine University Mesa men's volleyball team showcased resilience and depth on Friday afternoon, rallying for a hard-fought
3–2 victory over La Sierra in a match that featured momentum swings, clutch serving runs, and balanced offensive contributions.
After dropping the opening set, the Redhawks answered with authority, winning sets two, four, and five to secure the road win.
Set One – La Sierra 25, Benedictine Mesa 23
The opening frame was tightly contested from the start, with the teams trading points through the first half. Benedictine stayed within striking distance behind early kills from
Travis Kelly and
Joseph Washington, while
John Jakaitis orchestrated the offense efficiently.
Late in the set, the Redhawks went on a mini run to erase a late deficit and tie the score at 20–20. Benedictine continued to apply pressure, closing within one at 24–23, but La Sierra capitalized on a late service ace to narrowly claim the set.
Set Two – Benedictine Mesa 25, La Sierra 19
Benedictine responded immediately in the second set, taking early control with strong serving and a disciplined block presence.
Ethan Russel provided a spark from the service line with an ace, while Washington and Kelly anchored the front row offensively.
A decisive mid-set run pushed the Redhawks ahead by five, and Benedictine never looked back. Late kills from Kelly and
Chase Jensen, coupled with another service ace from Jakaitis, sealed the set and evened the match at one apiece.
Set Three – La Sierra 25, Benedictine Mesa 17
La Sierra regained momentum in the third set, jumping out to an early lead and forcing Benedictine to play from behind. Despite solid defensive efforts and kills from Russel and Washington, the Golden Eagles stretched the margin with consistent side-out play and strong serving.
Benedictine attempted to rally late, but La Sierra maintained its advantage to take the set and a 2–1 lead in the match.
Set Four – Benedictine Mesa 25, La Sierra 16
Facing elimination, the Redhawks delivered their most complete set of the night. Benedictine jumped ahead early and used a balanced attack to keep La Sierra off balance.
Jacob Saechao made an immediate impact, providing timely kills and steady defense.
Strong blocking by Kelly and Washington fueled an extended scoring run, while Jakaitis finished the set with a service ace. The Redhawks pulled away late to force a decisive fifth set.
Set Five – Benedictine Mesa 15, La Sierra 8
Benedictine carried its momentum into the final frame, opening with aggressive serving and crisp execution. A service ace from
Tucker Cunningham sparked a decisive run that gave the Redhawks control early.
Kills from Saechao and Russel continued to pad the lead, while the Redhawk defense limited La Sierra's offensive opportunities. Benedictine closed the match in dominant fashion, securing the final point with a well-executed attack to complete the comeback victory.
